taken as an attack on them. They got it all figured out. Just keep as much distance as you can.

It truly is hurtful though, but damn do they know the truth and still voted for this evil regime ?
They texted me and said how I was "missed" , I guess I am missed as long as I go along with their way of thinking and keep my mouth shut.
Thanks again for the advice, I need it right now.

Free speech for them not for you.

I have family member as well. I continue to love them but refuse to discuss politics with them. I tell them if they bring it up to me they ought to expect I am going to respond and it will not be pretty. Either accept that or it will be them that are causing the break. Cause they aren’t going to shut me up unless they shut themselves the fuck up. LOL.

They have joined a cult, facts and reality do not matter to them.

They adore a dangerous psychopath, rapist, criminal, traitor, insurrectionist, etc.
And think he is a brilliant choice for POTUS.
They hate the same people he hates.

I think if you want a relationship with these people the deal would have
to be no talk at all about politics.

Stick to safe topics.

They hit political pay dirt by going to the lowest common denominator.

It did quite a bit of damage to the country and set the stage for what we see now.

The majority of white people in the U.S. have been conditioned to hate Democrats. It's reflexive at this point. Now the propaganda is making inroads with Latinos.

It's 40 years of propaganda that people chose to listen to because it appealed to their racism. Came for the racism, stayed for the cult.

It's as simple as that. .

Lots of food and football though.

and he had the good sense not to talk politics. He was way outnumbered.

I don't believe he was MAGA. Early days with this dude.

Thanksgiving already you may ask. Hey I am a nice guy, unless...

grandchildren have ghosted me. After the years of fun interaction, gifts, going to sporting events, graduations, showers and weddings. Raised in the South, these adults don't think much of their "Yankee" family members. They've made it clear, they don't like my ideas or politics. Thank goodness my other grands are different. Hugs to you.

I needed the hug...

The top of my list of why I wish damnation on the orange Hitler is how he has divided so many families and friends.
What happened to blood is thicker than water?

And I don’t know if it’ll ever be repaired. Our country is now cursed with his hate.

grandchildren have ghosted me. After the years of fun interaction, gifts, going to sporting events, graduations, showers and weddings. Raised in the South, these adults don't think much of their "Yankee" family members. They've made it clear, they don't like my ideas or politics. Thank goodness my other grands are different. Hugs to you.

In the 60s and 70s the southern relatives still wanted to fight the civil war. It took awhile since I live in Ohio. There are people who live in Ohio who think Ohio is a southern state. Ohio supplied most of the United States soldiers. I think the maggots are mostly them.

... thank them for the pictures and ignore any mention of their political happiness. Some family member may need to have an "escape talk" and you might be their ear, someday. Also, they have a different "truth" and it is not debatable. For example, a fertilization/conception is a gift from God, so that life is a person. Science takes a back seat, also. I say, "Jesus is the child at the border." They say, "Jesus built the best wall of all, between Earth and Heaven." Just be someone a family member could communicate with, if needed. I would keep the communication lines open.

I feel bad for you and others here who have chosen politics over family.

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving at my house. I have Republican relatives who were present. We spent over 8 hours together and guess what? Nobody brought up politics. Lots of talk about family activities. Careers. Black Friday shopping strategies. Football. Travels.

I really hope that those of you who chose to disown your own family will one day reconsider. Family is more important than any politician out there. Remember, those republican family members were probably not very happy with Presidents Obama, Biden and Clinton. But I bet they didn’t disown you.

However you spent the day, I hope you and everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving.

If I had any MAGA relatives, I'd tell them to go fuck themselves.

When you visit a restaurant, do you first ask the politics of the owner and employees? Same with a grocery store? What about your doctors? If you visit an ER and you’re told you need immediate surgery, do you say, wait! I must know how the doctors and staff involved in my surgery voted.

What about your grocery store? The local farmer’s market.

The echo chamber worked so well in November.

snarky response? Every person has a right to decide who to let into their lives and who to keep in their lives. You have chosen what is right for you. Why are you judging what someone else chooses?

I’ll tell you why. I KNOW I’ll be attacked endlessly for this, but here goes.

I don’t believe that so many seemingly good, decent people posting here on DU have told their families to F off and stay out of their lives over politics.

Democrats have always been inclusive. Except the very very far left radicals. I grew up with Democratic parents, have Democratic and Republican family and friends right now. None of us would ever dream of telling each other to F off over politics.

If you have, yes, I have to ask how far you will go. Disowning your family should be last, not first, on your list. If you walk into Walmart, what does that say? Or buy a chicken sandwich. Or walk into any store without knowing the politics of the corporate AND franchise owner?

While these posts probably give some sort of street cred, I feel they’re embellished, just plain false or IF they are true, terribly sad. It’s amazing to see so many posts from Democrats running into Republicans in random places, arguing with them and feeling as if they told them off.

Your family should be precious. If they’re abusive, that’s an entirely different story.

I live in Western PA. People here are probably simpler and less aggressive than other areas of the country. We may argue about football. Penndot’s endlesss and inconveniencing construction. We may talk politics, but friendships and certainly family ties are not ended because of it.

IMHO if we continue to claim half of the country to be fascists and nazis and never talk to them, we're going to be in trouble in 28 and beyond.

Up until election day, I was sure Kamala would win PA and the election. Why shouldn’t she win? The economy around here is fantastic. If you want a job, you have one. Wages are increasing. Malls are packed. Movie theaters, airports, hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, all packed. People have money to spend. Kamala should have talked about that constantly, but she didn’t. Oprah, Beyoncé, Bruce Springsteen didn’t move the needle here in PA one inch. If she would have talked about the economy and explained how she and Biden made that happened, maybe it would have made a difference. I got worried on Election Day, driving through ruby red dress and seeing people lined up to vote like I’ve never seen before. I was worried all day and night. When he won PA, I was angry, upset, but didn’t tell my Republican friends to F off.

So that’s just my take. Everyone’s entitled to their opinion.

Black friends?. Immigrants? People with kids and grandkids who would like a habitable planet?
Female friends who might die because of the women's health care laws springing up. People with disabilities who prefer not to be made fun of? People who don't want to die because of vaccine unavailability?
Your MAGA relatives are telling them "Fuck You".

And, once and for all, this far transcends politics, so you should stop using that word.

as if there were not real world consequences regarding people in our midst that are bigots - homophobes - white christian nationalists ...

Did I already use the term 'shallow' .. ? Here's another little gem ..

Hardly. My person life is certainly not shared in detail on this or any social media website. If it makes you feel better claiming to know, it doesn’t bother me.

I didn’t tell my friends and relatives to F off in 2016. They didn’t tell me to F off in 2020.

I knew I’d be attacked for my thoughts. It’s no problem. Probably makes you feel good. Maybe superior. Have at it.

If you think that’s a winning strategy for 2028, go for it. I’ll be anxious to see how that works in suburban areas and rural areas of Western PA.

Have you asked one trump voter why they voted that way? Not some anecdotal conversation you read about online? Probably not, since you’ve told all of them to F off. If you want even a sliver of a chance in 2028, it might be beneficial to ask them.

But in the meantime, enjoy your glory here.

(even while knowing "I'd be attacked for my thoughts .." )
But apparently still lashing out at the 'expected' opposition .. ?

There is nothing wholesome or 'moral' about surrounding yourself with people that hold (and espouse) values and beliefs that are toxic and deleterious. Maintaining relationships with toxic influence offers shallow (and false) comfort - while very often coming at true detriment and cost to both individual and whole. Some of us have learned this through hard experience. And some of us will cling to notions of 'happy hearth' and 'strong families' - regardless of any greater picture.

- - - - - - - - - - - -

They might be lovely people otherwise but they enable the Fascists when they vote as they do.

We don’t know how bad it’s gonna get when they take power but it ain’t gonna be good. Just maybe we can fend them off in the Courts and somewhat blunt the worst of their actions until the midterms but for at least some people, it will no doubt be disastrous.

Maybe some of our otherwise lovely relatives, cause I have some too just like many here, maybe they don’t really wish ill on at least some of those that will be adversely affected. Many only voted Republican because they, and their families for generations have always voted Republican, having no real clue as to their plans and policies or simply because their husbands told them to.

But it matters not, consciously or unconsciously they voted for fascism and the disaster to come.

VP Kamala Harris and all of her wealthy surrogates should have done a better job.

Also, this shows you have absolutely no faith in any of the DC Democrats to stop said fascism. Why did you vote for any Democrats if they were unable to fend off fascism? In fact, did Senator Casey ever claim he would fight to fend off fascism?

This reply is meant for everyone in this thread claiming to have disowned their family because of their vote.

First, I don’t believe most of you have done that. It’s typed for site street cred. How could you fit in with far far leftists if you actually were civil to your republican family? Sure wouldn’t look good. There’s an online reputation to uphold.

Second, good luck with that message in 2028.

My family is THE most important thing on this earth.

I am truly sorry to hear that most of you don’t feel the same.

Did you not read the part where I hoped we can’t blunt or prevent the worst of their actions in the Courts? I think it goes without saying that we assume our Democratic representatives will do their part as will we all.

The part about you wondering why I bother to vote is frankly, insulting and uncalled for.

Did you not read the part where I hoped we can’t blunt or prevent the worst of their actions in the Courts? I think it goes without saying that we assume our Democratic representatives will do their part as will we all.

The part about you wondering why I bother to vote is frankly, insulting and uncalled for.

I have no interest in attacking you, but you seem to want to attack other's choices. For many people, having family members vote for a party that actively wants to take away their rights is a bridge too far. So, while business owners may support that party, there is no expectation that those people would love you or value you. When it's your family that doesn't value you, and makes a political choice that will actively harm you, it can become very personal. Everyone needs to make choices that allow them to mentally get through the next 4 years (or more). If that means eliminating people from your life, than that's what you should do. Complex family histories and dynamics will also influence choices. You did what was right for you. None of us is in a position to say what is right for someone else.

I'm not supporting fascists if I can help it

Ethics and values serving as a prime example. If someone sharing our DNA is a predator - criminal - virulent racist and bigot - misogynist - christo-fascist - human trafficker .... The proposition that this person must be invited into the fold and embraced - because, "family." Is not only wrongheaded on its face - but also thoroughly repugnant. In short - there is no 'morality' to be found in this archaic tribal construct.

So, please - - stop preaching the old, and very tired, "blood is thicker than water" doggerel. It's way past time we moved past such contrived and limiting notions.

Many of us grew up in environments where 'family' was a virtual mantra. The lives we have lived have taught us better.

Orange psycho to those presidents is laughable.

That is very insulting to people here. You are parroting exactly the line that MAGA relatives have taunted us with.

We have not chosen politics over family. Our MAGA family and friends choose politics over us. They decided that family was not more important for them than Trump is. Beyond that, they are abusive about it. I heard their right wing nonsense for years. But MAGA has given them license to be abusive.

There is no reason why we should have to be abused, and there is no reason why you should be dismissing and trivializing that.

Or how RFK Jr. is sticking it to the Scientists that vaccines are "Nothing but injecting poison into an otherwise healthy body". Or, "The price of groceries are too damn high." Or, "ALL forms of Birth Control are now BANNED all across the country, as is access to Reproductive Care."

My children know where I stand on the issues. I did mention a while back that I am still alive and kicking due to Science, vaccines, education and information about healthy living, etc. If my husband were to stop taking his medications, he would surely die a horrible death and I would be blind. Thank goodness our funeral arrangements have been taken care of and pre-paid for.

The only background he has in drugs is when he was a drug dealer at Harvard. He would have a criminal record if his name weren't Kennedy.

the Country, and struck down quite a few people, including in my case, my cousin, who bless his heart, is handling it w/ courage. He's now bound to a wheelchair (he wasn't before), but the illness has progressed, affected his walking. His spirit is still strong.

No offense against short people. This is metaphor.

You are a BIG person who cares for others, and are part the family of mankind that makes life better. When difficulty comes, real difficulty and not the hallucinations of nonexistent ghosts that cult leaders paint, we hold each other up, while the magats find no support in the blame they try to heap on others. It's quicksand.

They sink deeper while we help each other up.

they voted against cheap insulin for my type 1 diabetic 7 year old granddaughter, they voted against my Union, they voted against my social security that I worked for my whole life and our kids who are coming along, they voted against helping first time home buyers help, they voted against child tax credits for young families, they voted against so many things good and voted for so many things bad.
I want to know if they truly did this intentionally and this is who they are or have they totally been misled and need to be exposed to truth.
Somebody has to be a witness to expose the lies.

he proposed cutting social security in every one of them.
I'll let my DU gay friends point out his position on gay rights.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2024/03/12/former-president-trumps-history-of-proposing-cuts-in-medicare-spending/

And that whole obsession with sexuality, genitalia, sports, et al, is just weird.

Leftover Pizza Day!!!! Enjoy!!

Last time around he said there was no need for a GOP platform, so they just winged it with the 2017 platform.

THIS time around the GOP has a 900+ pages document courtesy of the extreme far-right intelligentsia. It’s free online — you can download it — here’s the links. Start anywhere. I’ve even linked the synopsis and guide.

https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf

https://www.project2025.org/

https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration

A synopsis & guide to 920 pages:

https://static.project2025.org/2025_MandateForLeadership_FULL.pdf

I will not be a “good german”

I intend to make no attempt to continue a relationship with them. I'll be cordial if they contact me, but that's all.

family, friends, co-workers who are either MAGA, or maybe not MAGA, but definitely not liberals. DINOs, Independents, moderate/establishment Republicans. One Sovereign Citizen thrown in there. I don't know what to think of her, but she's a hoot. I just don't let politics poison my relationships. I learned a long time ago it's just not worth it. So I have a very wide diverse social circle. Diversity of everything, thought and opinion are as important as culture and background.

When someone believes that gratuitous cruelty to others is not out of line, then I write them off.

I am fortunate not to have any such people in my immediate family on either side of the Atlantic, and our daughters have not brought any such people to be included in the circle, either. Never mind their looks. My wife was a social worker all her life, and those are the values she and I instilled in our children. They remain, too.

But it takes 2 to agree to leave politics alone.

After a maximum of 30 min, some of my relatives will insist
on telling me how great MAGA world is. They bring up their love of Trump, anti-vaxxing, hate for immigrants, atheist and socialist are Satan and women should know their place and stop killing their babies.

I don't have to say anything. They will bring it up. Most any sane comment gets attacked and belittled. If I try to disengage, they roll their eyes at me and put on a smug look like I'm just crazy.

It sounds good on the surface but I think you must know some nicer versions of a MAGAT.

they were in the beginning of covid but all eventually got the vaccine, they hate Obamacare but all use it, they take advantage of everything we get done but vote against it.

I'm so sorry for you.

I count my lucky stars every day we are all Progressive.

Have you considered that maybe you’re the problem? I mean, getting in someone’s face about politics when that person doesn’t want to hear it is just asking for people to alienate you.

and Beech still thinks that the MAGA relations need to be set down and 'talked' to .. Head - let me introduce - Wall ..
- - - - - - - - - -

In the early years I simply asked them to compare the national prayer breakfast speeches of President Obama vs trump and was shut down cold.
Over the next cpl years I asked if they would watch an upcoming speech by President Biden and compare with trump, shut down again.
So I basically cut off communication with them.
I have and never will get in my 3 older sisters face.

Really, it is.

(sometimes sadly toxic) notion. We would be better off dumping, or at the very least de-emphasizing, it!

You probably miss the family you once had and thought you knew. Sadly that is not the family you have today. I feel for you. I am lucky. Just a few MAGAs to avoid, so I can pick my events and still see many family members. Wish you the best.

You will need to just search for it, I guess.

It is by the daughter of MLK.

There was also advice from a psychiatry professor (MSNBC) giving full support to avoid even friends and family members, at least until you would feel more comfortable around them.

And my perspective... They voted against the well being of some people you care very much about. Does that mean they would be ok with throwing them in jail "for their own good"? Quite possibly. Religious people can be mean as hell.

The family you miss is the old one, not the cult variation. Maybe after the nightmare coming our way hits them, they'll change their tune.

I've read that many 'low information' voters get their views from friends and family. If others don't communicate with them they may stay locked in their echo chamber.

I have a close relative who has gone to the dark side, but we agree not to talk about politics. He knows how I feel. Once in a while I try to throw a fact out there, but I don't argue anymore.

For him and other folks like him I try to show I'm a good person - "Look, I'm a Democrat and I'm not eating babies..."

For what it's worth...

You've seen who they are, and how they act. These may be family, but they're now clowns which attend a cult. Maybe going no contact is a good route.

I have no interest in trying to rekindle relationships with people who voted to kill Medicaid, deport millions, make trans people illegal, make abortion illegal, eliminate same-sex marriages, get rid of birth control and no-fault divorce, and so much more.
Republicans have advocated for ALL of these things. If you voted for them then you support them also.

Her family is Republican but he stood up and yelled,” No Politics,” a few years ago so have a great time together.

One of the grand daughters bought a turkey hat. One of the young guys fell asleep. They put the hat on him with one leg hanging down, the sent it to all of us. Great morning laugh.😆

You thus have two choices. Either accept them as they are or cut all ties with them. They can't make that decision for you. Only you can determine which route you'll take

I am so serious. I read about these posters who have families of MAGAts and I'm like how the hell did you turn out right? I don't have any MAGAts in my family.

There's gotta be an intrinsic component in people who do not turn out to be MAGAts, some compassionate and intelligent component that MAGAts lack. Like how MAGAts are so gullible and fall for the okey dokie, while other normal people do not.

They will wait for you to be alone in the room and boom blindside you. Mine are liars and self absorbed. Last Christmas was my last. The moment I was alone with my sister she started in on me. I said we needed to change the subject. She went off on where I get off telling people what they can talk about. That was it!

That will probably change next year when we move to my wife's home state where most of her relatives reside. They don't talk politics or even vote, just spend time living their lives, talk about the yield of their berry crops, how good the weather was, play some board games, fishing, etc.

My side of the family which once used to be close is a cluster fuck now. Wife and I realized two of my siblings are just waiting (I'm the eldest) for me and my sister (second eldest and cancer survivor...for now) to keel over and die so they can collect the family assets and be hiers to all ours. Joke's on them, this next year we are going to set things up to where one niece gets some things and the rest goes to chairities for animal welfare (we couldn't have children).

They would probably burn through it within a year anyway. Too bad we will both be gone, but to see the look on thier faces of how much they could have had and discover they don't get one red cent....

I am lucky that none of my family are and they would never vote for a fascist murderer for any reason. 🤗

Sorry to say, your own protection and survival means ending all of those relationships. Fill up your life with good people, people who are worth loving. Not them.

Just tell them you prefer to celebrate the holidays with people who share and respect your values, which they have aggressively chosen not to do. It will either be a learning experience for them, or a liberating experience for you. Either way, it's a good thing.

I'm doing the same -- shrinking my circle to remove people who do not respect my existence and my values, and looking for new ways to connect with people who do. I've bent over backwards to make everyone comfortable for way too long. It hasn't ended well, and it's time for change.


MDN

I had not thought of this, Thank you.

Last edited Sun Dec 1, 2024, 04:01 PM - Edit history (1)

They just don't get it. "The kids (all adults) asked why you didn't come" well, because we have nothing in common, and your late father indoctrinated you with anti-democratic BS when you were young, that's why. Also, they know I'm a federal employee which makes me want to slap them silly. It's a family of Stepford robots.

Sending love to you.